Charles Temple, road department director for 23 years, recently resigned from the post after voicing his displeasure with a county vacation policy.

County building and grounds director Alan Lapczynski served double duty during December, handling building maintenance and road director duties during the holiday season.

Lapczynski said the workload has been intense.

“I didn’t have a day off,” he told the board.

County commissioners have voiced confidence in Lapczynski’s ability to handle road oversight duties. And they floated the idea of Lapczynski continuing to hold both posts, with some positions added to lessen his workload.
However, commissioner Jim Escoe voiced disapproval of the idea, saying the duties are too diverse.

“We’re trying to overlap two departments way too much,” said Escoe.

Lapczynski said he would consider the proposal, but he informed BOC chairman Anthony Dove Tuesday that he felt he could “best serve the county and his family by remaining over just building and grounds.”

Dove said Lapczynski will remain over the road department until a permanent director is hired.

The chairman said the BOC will need to meet soon to discuss an array of issues, including the vacant road department position, the beer and wine license procedures, EMS billing guidelines, county employee retirement incentives and health care coverage for part-time county employees.

No date for that meeting has been set.

SPLOST REVENUES

In other matters, Dove reported that special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) revenues were up $136,000 in 2012.

“That puts us back in the range of 2007, which was our highest point,” said Dove.

ZONING ISSUES DISCUSSED

The commissioners approved requests from Mike and Wendy Pullian to rezone three tracts of 1.22 acres, .521 acres and 1.103 acres on Human Road to rural residential.

In a separate zoning matter, the board heard from zoning commission chairman Wayne Douglas, who reported that the planning commission is combining B-1 and B-2 zoning designations into one “B” (business) category. Douglas said this will eliminate confusion for business owners.

ELECTION BOARD RESOLUTION

County commissioners discussed the proposed establishment of an election board in Madison County, with election oversight duties being transferred from the county probate judge to the county registrar, a post held by Tracy Dean.
The county registrar will serve as the chairman of the three-person election board, with the other two members nominated by the county Republican and Democratic parties.

The board recently agreed to have the county Grand Jury recommend an election board chairman to a Superior Court judge. But commissioners voiced concern Monday about the possibility of someone other than Dean being nominated for the post.

“I don’t want her job to be in jeopardy,” said commissioner John Pethel, referring to Dean.

The commissioners then agreed to have the BOC make a recommendation to a Superior Court judge on the election board chairman, leaving the Grand Jury out of the process.

The resolution to establish a county election board must be approved by the Georgia General Assembly.

THOMAS NAMED VICE-CHAIRMAN

Commissioner Stanley Thomas was approved 3-1 at the BOC table to serve as the board’s vice chairman in 2013. Thomas abstained from the vote, while commissioner Jim Esoce provided the lone “no.”

VACATION POLICIES

In another matter, Thomas said he would like for employees to be allowed to donate unused vacation time to fellow employees who qualify for aid under the Family Medical Leave Act.

“Anyone could find out tomorrow that they have a terminal disease,” he said.

Currently, sick days can be donated by employees to a “bank” of unused days. Thomas said he’d like to see unused vacation days added to the donation policy.

I know somebody who may be interested in and qualified for the Road Department Head position. How does one view the qualification requirements and submit a resume or apply for the job? It is not listed among the job opportunities at the county website.

I say , I say there Foghorn when does it ever make sense unless you close one eye stand on the opposite foot and contort your upper lip just right while you call you cousin or friend over and ask them if they would scratch you nose for you.

Why is the BOC complicating the issue of replacing Mr. Temple? Leave Alan where he is happy in building and construction and find someone to replace Charles. There is no need to reinvent the wheel here. Why build a new kingdon when just filling a vacancy will do. These guys make things so complicated!!!

Mr. Lapczynski you thought you didn't have no days off when you were doing double duty for a month Just wait and see what happens if you accept this new position? You won't get NO days off for vacation OR sick days AND then you will be SCREWED OUT OF YOUR VACATION DAYS TOO? Just like everyone else who works for Madison County?

Ms.K- You say that's not true AND you ask why I "Blabber such nonsense" ANSWER ME THIS since you know SO DANG MUCH? WHY are ALL the people who work for Madison Co. WHO have all this time built up losing it WITHOUT being paid for the hours? HOW did they get all these hours was it magic? The employees should have been told UP FRONT that they HAD to take vacation days or they would lose them AND then when they ask for a day off BE GIVEN IT. Not be told the county couldn't afford to let them off for the day? IF they have the time built up THEN THE COUNTY SHOULD BE MADE TO LET THEM OFF OR PAY THEM FOR THE HOURS NOT TAKEN? That's only fair.

Really ? Get the info for before you make statements like that ! No one is whinning just stating the truth which is the info you need too know before making your own accusations !
You want to talk about saving money ? Cut out that Rec Dept. that is your waste of tax money !

I would think the rec dept generates more income (sales tax) for the county than Watson's Mill does.
Ever seen how many people attend the various sports events? Probaly more in one day than the Mill park sees in a month.
And, yes, county employees are whinning. Never heard of a private business that allows carrying vacation time to the next year. They were given ample time to adjust to the new (overdue) rules. Gov't employees think they should have special treatment, I guess.

Ben- You are right I have never had a job where I could roll my vacation days over from year to year. BUT if the Dept.Head told them the county couldn't afford to let them off for vacation right now but told them they could roll vacation days over then YES they should be paid for EVERY hour. AND if this matter goes to court and I was the Judge I would make the county pay them double?

How is it that the people commenting on this article have so much more information on this issue than the person who wrote it? It sounds like this situation is ripe for a juicy exposé. I'm sure the newspaper would be interested in uncovering the tyrannical abuses of our county government. It would surely boost circulation.

Please dispense with the "you don't have the full story" hints at misconduct and fill us in. Name names, give dates, call out specific department heads. Seriously, if what you're implying is true--that employees tried to take vacation days but were not allowed to do so--the citizens should hear that side of the story.

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